On the Job Safety for US Electricians

Safety on the job should always be the highest priority. To help contractor partners understand if safety is a focus on the jobsite, Gardner Bender and Sperry Instruments surveyed over 250 U.S. union and non-union electricians about their experience with safety while at work.

The 2018 results are in and they show safety isn't always a top focus.

Organizing cords and cables is a snap!

Safety in the Workplace:
The 2018 GB & Sperry safety survey revealed five in eleven electricians have previously been injured on the job site. The most common reported injuries are cuts, abrasions and minor electric shock, closely followed by injuries involving strains and sprains.

The biggest opportunity of focus was around safety code education and programs to reduce safety concerns. Only 27 percent of electricians reported learning about safety codes and requirements while on the job. In addition, 37 percent reported their employers do not have any programs in place to help promote safety or to help eliminate unsafe conditions.

Personal safety ownership was a big theme with 34 percent stating their employers do not provide safety items for them. When asked where these electricians purchase their safety items, the most common results were from a home center or an online retailer.

Trusting Your Tools:
Slightly less than half of the surveyed electricians don't always trust the tools they use. Nine out of ten electricians currently carry and use a non-contact tester. However, 43 percent state they do not trust their non-contact voltage tester to verify that the power is completely off. This is due to previous experiences with a false reading from their non-contact voltage tester. To ensure safety, almost half of the electricians surveyed stated that they double check with a meter to be sure it is safe to continue their project.

Another finding showed the importance of CAT ratings and UL approved equipment. Reportedly, 8 in 10 electricians feel comfortable understanding all aspects of CAT ratings. When purchasing a meter, 50 percent of electricians require CAT IV ratings, and 44 percent, require CAT III ratings. We were impressed to find out 95 percent of electricians will only purchase UL approved equipment.

Improving Safety on the Job:
Gardner Bender and Sperry Instruments place safety features on the top of the list. To improve safety and functionality beyond the typical UL & CSA standards, many features are incorporated into the design to improve visual and audible indication and to allow one hand testing of circuits. A free second hand can provide stability on a ladder or allow a user to document results without repetitive motions. Magnetic backs and hang straps allow the tester to be positioned so the audible indicators are at ear level, and the visual indicators are at eye level. The non-contact voltage testers (NCVs) incorporate many safety features such as, 360° visual indication and audible beeping to provide a positive indication of the status of the circuit. All of these features allow the user to focus on the task at hand of testing and troubleshooting the circuit.

All Gardner Bender and Sperry Instruments testers are designed and tested to UL & CSA standards and carry CAT I through CAT IV ratings where applicable. An industry best lifetime warranty on all Sperry testers and an industry standard 1 year warranty on Gardner Bender testers shows we proudly stand behind our products.